Human influence on the atmosphere: problems and solutions

Man's economic activities all affect the atmosphere more negatively, and as a result, affect the rest of the environment. Modern anthropogenic factors have led to excessive strengthening of the wig effect, global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain and other environmental problems.

Greenhouse effect

Today's human influence on the atmosphere is colossal. Every day there are all new enterprises and cars that emit a significant amount of gases. All of them are concentrated in the atmosphere, which leads to the emergence of the strongest greenhouse effect. This is the name of the ability of some gases to transmit to the surface of the planet additional solar radiation.

With natural proportions, the greenhouse effect is one of the factors of the existence of life on Earth, since it is thanks to it that the air temperature that is familiar to us is preserved. However, due to the increase in the concentration of gases in the atmosphere, this balance is violated. For this reason, ecologists and weather forecasters today note an increase in average temperature throughout the world.

Emissions of carbon dioxide

A significant influence of man on the atmosphere is explained by several factors. First of all, it is emissions of carbon dioxide. It has a small greenhouse potential, but it can exist in the atmosphere for several decades. Therefore, the concentration of carbon dioxide grows into a global problem gradually, but at the same time and confidently.

The main source of the supply of this substance to the atmosphere is the processing and burning of oil, coal, gas, ie. Fossil fuels. Their importance for mankind can not be overestimated - thanks to these types of fuel about 80% of the world's energy is produced. Meanwhile, the needs of society are growing. There are new factories, factories, cities - all this strengthens the influence of man on the atmosphere. Every year, the flow of carbon dioxide into this environment grows by about half a percent.

There are other reasons that fuel the environmental situation. Thus, a gradual decrease in the area of forests in the equatorial and tropical zones leads to an additional release of the oxidizing carbon. This process is promoted not only by nature, but also by man. His active economic activity remains the reason for the gradual cutting down of new and new forests.

Due to changes in the atmosphere, the increase in carbon dioxide emissions also affects the world ocean, which absorbs and dissolves this compound. This is a natural process, the proportions in which are violated because of anthropogenic interference. The scale of the exchange between the atmosphere and the deepest layers of the ocean has not yet been accurately estimated. Its peculiarity is that this process indirectly changes the entire ecosystem as a whole. So the influence of man on the atmosphere affects the photosynthesis, the source of stimulation of which is carbon dioxide.

Surplus methane

The greenhouse effect is intensified also because of the large concentration of methane, which is growing due to anthropogenic factors. In natural conditions, it is formed in marshes, rice plantations, etc. But today about 60% of methane in the atmosphere appears due to the burning of fossil fuels, oil refining and gas production. All these factors increase the influence of man on the atmosphere.

In short, nature has its own mechanisms for reducing the amount of methane. This substance is unstable. It is removed from the atmosphere due to interaction with other compounds, including the hydroxyl ion. However, even these natural processes today can not support the concentration of methane in the normal framework. Comparing the indicators of the present and the pre-industrial era, scientists came to the conclusion that during this time, the figures have more than doubled, which can not but remain without consequences for the whole planet.

Global warming

Because of the increased greenhouse effect, the average temperature in the world over the last century has increased by an average of 0.6 ° C. This is how the negative impact of man on the atmosphere. And although the figures may seem small and insignificant, in fact even tiny changes radically change the biosphere.

The temperature increase associated with human intervention accelerated at an accelerated pace after the 1980s. When in many countries more and more new plants began to appear, and there was also an automobile boom. First, the ecologists beat the alarm, and then the rest of the scientists. Studies on this topic began to be carried out only at the end of the 20th century, when modern technology appeared that was necessary for ultra-accurate temperature measurements and the generalization of a vast array of data from around the world.

Forecast for the future

Today, there are several theoretical models for the further development of events. If the impact of human economic activity on the atmosphere remains the same or continues to increase (this is the most likely option), the greenhouse gas emissions will gradually increase. By the 22nd century, the temperature will rise by 2-3 ° C. In this case, the greatest changes will occur in the subarctic and arctic belt. The most visible consequence will be mass melting of glaciers. This process began today.

The influence of human activities on the atmosphere will lead to an increase in the amount of precipitation. The map of their distribution will be much more colorful than now. At the same time, all sorts of natural cataclysms will be involved: tsunamis, storms, cyclones. A similar disaster occurred at the end of 2005 on the northern coast of the Indian Ocean, when about 300 thousand people died.

Due to the reduction of polar and mountain glaciers, the average level of the World Ocean continues to grow steadily. Over the past hundred years, he climbed 10 to 20 centimeters. Already in the risk zone there are glacial shields of Antarctica, as well as melting ice of Greenland. The rise in the ocean level will have a huge impact on the coastal zones in which many people live. These regions include the Netherlands, Bangladesh, etc.

Of course, the influence of the atmosphere on people's lives can change over time. Everything depends on the attitude of mankind to its economic activities. In many countries, alternative energy sources are becoming popular today, thanks to which it is possible to reduce the use of oil products and other harmful fuels. For example, these are windmills and solar panels. The problem with transport is also at the decision stage. Some advanced car manufacturers focused on the release and improvement of models working on electricity.

Degradation of the ozone layer

Excessive warming is not the only problem that is stimulated by the negative influence of a person on the atmosphere. In addition, due to anthropogenic factors, the ozone layer is destroyed. It is located in the troposphere at an altitude of about 25 kilometers. This thin layer protects the Earth's surface from ultraviolet radiation, the source of which is the sun.

Thanks to ozone in the troposphere, comfortable conditions for the emergence of life on the planet were formed. When exposure to ultraviolet radiation, severe forms of skin cancer occur, eye diseases, impaired immunity. In addition, it leads to a decrease in crop yields, plankton mortality in the oceans and other adverse environmental consequences.

The negative impact of the atmosphere on the human body today is not least due to the fact that due to anthropogenic factors, the ozone layer lost about 5% of its own mass. In 1984, English researchers who studied Antarctica discovered an amazing phenomenon. Above this continent, they recorded a huge ozone "hole" - in autumn the level of ozone in it is 40% below the average. For this reason today our planet receives 10 times more ultraviolet radiation, in comparison with natural indicators.

The ozone problem has become an alarming ecological signal. At the end of the 20th century, several international conventions were signed, according to which the leaders of the industrialized countries agreed to reduce their production associated with the use of chlorofluorocarbons. Such dangerous anomalies arise precisely because of these substances.

Acid rain

Human influence on the atmosphere has one more form. It is associated with increased acidity. In science, this process is called asidifikatsiey. The increase in acidity begins in the atmosphere, and then by means of precipitation, similar changes occur in the aquatic environment and in soils.

In natural environmental conditions, this indicator is weak or neutral. However, due to the ingress of nitrogen oxides and sulfur into the atmosphere, dangerous acidic precipitations arise . Similar phenomena can occur for natural reasons, for example, after a volcanic eruption. But it is human activity that makes the greatest contribution to this coin box. These factors include burning fossil fuels. First of all, it is coal used in boiler houses, thermal power stations, oil industry and metallurgy.

Agriculture is another cause of acid precipitation. Nitrogen fertilizers are to blame, which are used in large quantities by farmers of different countries. Chemical compounds fall into the soil, and from there to other areas of the environment, including the atmosphere.

Through rain, the acid enters the ecosystem and damages forests, underground waters, lakes and rivers. Thanks to nitrogen compounds, new algae absorbing oxygen are appearing. In addition, the spoiled atmosphere changes the radiation background on Earth, as well as the balance of nutrients in the environment.

Air pollution

Every day the enterprises of heat power engineering, chemical industry, non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy throw into the atmosphere all new harmful substances. This leads to background air pollution in vast spaces in all countries. The ecosystem of modern cities is full of solid substances (for example, heavy metals), and the vegetation in it is oppressed or transformed. The reason for all this decline is the absorption by the atmosphere of almost the entire periodic table.

A universal problem affecting the lives of millions of people requires serious decisions. Today, the negative impact of the atmosphere on human health has become the reason for the introduction of new technologies related to waste disposal and production. For a long time people struggled with pollution by cleaning them. Time has shown that this way is wrong.

The problem must be prevented, not decided after the occurrence. For this purpose, sanitary-protected zones are allocated, new layouts of urban and industrial construction are introduced. Finally, legislative prohibitions and punishments are introduced. State authorities fix the values of the maximum permissible concentration of harmful substances in the atmosphere. Monitoring and regular monitoring of air pollution are carried out. The production of certain substances is generally prohibited or severely restricted.

Beat on health

The negative impact of atmospheric pollution on human health continues to increase over the course of several decades. People (especially urban residents) breathe every day harmful substances that are in the air. These are particles of asbestos, soot, lead in the solid state, sulfuric acid and hydrocarbons in the form of tiny droplets, as well as all kinds of gases. Together, the effects of all these substances affect breathing. In addition, there is an increased likelihood of cardiovascular disease.

The influence of atmospheric pollution on human health depends on the innate predisposition of the organism to this or that diagnosis. But in the incidence of diseases there is a general tendency, which is determined by the large concentration of a particular substance. For example, carbon monoxide, sulfur compounds, propylene, fatty acids, lead and mercury cause diseases associated with the circulatory system. Diseases of the sensory organs and the nervous system, as a rule, are due to the presence of compounds of chromium and silicon dioxide. Phenol, fluorine, dust, hydrogen sulphide and carbon disulphide are fertile ground for the progression of diseases of the digestive system.

Petroleum products, arsenic and benzene entering the atmosphere today are a serious problem in a slightly different area. All these substances affect the reproductive function of the human body. This group can also include organic compounds, including dioxins.

Damage to cars

According to scientists, on average, the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere and air reduces life for a period of 3 to 5 years. The influence of atmospheric pollution on a person is formed primarily due to the ever increasing use of cars. Fuel in cars burns unevenly and not completely, because of which substances harmful to people fall into the environment. When driving a car, only 15% of gasoline is consumed. The remaining 85% settle in the air and enter the atmosphere.

The combustion chamber inside the car engine is a chemical reactor producing all the new toxic compounds. Although in general, thanks to other factors, there is also a positive influence of the person on the atmosphere, all these advantages turn pale before the consequences of using gasoline-powered vehicles. From cars remain such solid emissions as soot and lead. Hydrocarbons settle on their surface, some of which increase the risk of cancer.